Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB429 by Lucio (Relating to a comprehensive plan for increasing and improving the workforce in this state to serve persons with mental health and substance use issues.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Depending upon the recommendations of the comprehensive plan to increase and improve the workforce in this state that serves individuals with mental health and substance use issues, there may be an indeterminate negative fiscal impact to the state.
The statewide behavioral health coordinating council and the Health and Human Services Commission are required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money to the commission specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the council and the commission may, but are not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.
The bill would amend Chapter 531 of the Government Code to require the statewide behavioral health coordinating council, under the direction of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), to develop a comprehensive plan to increase and improve the workforce in this state that serves individuals with mental health and substance use issues. HHSC would be required to implement the plan. The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Based on the Legislative Budget Board's analysis of HHSC, it is assumed that costs associated with developing the comprehensive plan could be absorbed using existing resources. There could be an indeterminate fiscal impact to the state to implement the plan depending on the plan's recommendations to increase and improve the workforce.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.